KGNU Board Meeting, 4/11/06

Present: Yukari, Chris Mohr, Greg O’Brien, Ann Colcord, Davide, Clover, Michael Buck

Board members:  Michael Shuster, Chip Grandits, Steven Sherman Boemker, Marge Taniwaki,

Janaki LeFils, Wendy Emrich, Kit Hollingshead, David Kane

Staff:  Faye Lamb, Marty Durlin

EC departs…big thanks to Elaine (EC) Erb, who served as Music Director for seven years. Among her achievements: the expansion of KGNU’s music library, planning the studio layout during the move to 4700 Walnut Street, overseeing the development of our music playlist database, increasing overall communication with record companies.

As Executive Producer of the KGNU Kabaret, EC showcased the incredible variety of music created on the Front Range of Colorado.  She also made a special effort to connect KGNU with the local classical music community, featuring artists from the Colorado Music Festival, the Boulder Philharmonic and the University of Colorado. EC moves on to Airshow, the Grammy-winning recording and mastering company in Boulder, and she will remain as a volunteer music programmer on KGNU.

KGNU turns 28 on Monday, May 22. Have not decided how to celebrate yet. The last few years we’ve held an open house all day.

NFCB Conference: Faye and I will attend the NFCB Conference April 19-22 in Portland OR. Faye will attend an all-day major giving workshop the day before the conference begins.

GRC: 11th annual Grassroots Radio Conference will take place in Madison July 28-30.

Denver: Sam and I will be meeting with others involved in the micro-business space in Denver later this month to discuss KGNU’s studio space there. Faye is checking into possible donations of buildings, as well. The Denver Advisory Committee meets Thursday,  April 13th at Micro-business
 (700 Kalamath Street), 6-7:30 pm.
Faye’s Report (Development)

First, development, marketing and public relations need to be thought of in the same context - one without the other is usually ineffective in whatever the project.

We are too divided in our Departments and especially between Denver and Boulder concepts; we are not two, we are one

Discussion of Pledge Drive
The money taken in was much lower than in several years.  The number of renewals from Boulder members was lower.  The pledges during evening news were way down, and down generally in the public affairs time
 slots.  
Spring break and the nice weather may have been a factor.  We really can’t say for sure why the numbers were so low.  We may need to do three days of a pledge drive in the summer, in early August. 
What works is to inspire people.  Marty could call all pledge rappers and remind them they need to learn new things.  We have been so focused internally.  There is donor and issue fatigue – a malaise over the country.  People are down and depressed and scared of the economy.  
What to do.   Since we didn’t have an all-station meeting in early Spring, we could have one at the end of summer.  Faye spoke of a vision quest on air – a new show with new ideas being asked for on the air.  “Go to the People”.  
Use the Comment Line to say what you’d like to hear.
Use “social responsibility” cast in a positive way and segue into the vision quest.  Could use the Metro space.
Denver group could co-chair efforts. 
Unify the station under one budget and one vision.
Steps:  1. Will send out mailing to those who didn’t renew.  Will go out on air.
2. Mini-drive in August
3. On-air report to listeners in early May.
4. Schedule a once a month meeting with Board and staff about how and what to do.  
Meeting adjourned at 8:40.
 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Janaki LeFils, Secretary